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October 3 - October 3, 2023
The real question we should be asking is, What do we fear most? This is a much better inquiry than focusing on how to annihilate destructive fears or manage constructive ones.
In the words of Charles Spurgeon, “The fear of God is the death of every other fear; like a mighty lion, it chases all other fears before it.”
The person who fears God doesn’t say within themselves, “How close can I get to the line of sin and not fall in?” No, he or she says, “I want to be so close to God, and so far away from that line, that I can’t even see it.”
When Jesus returns, His glory will be so much greater than the sun, He will darken it, even though it will still be burning!
The glory of the Lord is everything that makes God, God. All His characteristics, authority, power, wisdom—literally the immeasurable weight and magnitude of God. Nothing is hidden or held back!
This world’s system is like river rapids forcefully surging, even pounding upon a person’s psyche in an attempt to dismiss the glory of God. The substance of this river is words, thoughts, images, videos, or any other medium that can be used to elevate mortal man at the expense of reducing the greatness of our Creator. One who lacks holy fear easily succumbs to this force and slips into the mindset of believing that God doesn’t take notice, or care about, what they do. Thoughts begin to form such as I’m an exception; I’m exempt; I’m no different than most; God overlooks my motives, words, or
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Every human being has three images of themselves: a perceived image, a projected image, and an actual image.
The best of this life is but a shadow of the eternal. There will be communities to plan, cities to build, nations to oversee, galaxies to explore and develop, and infinitely more that aligns with how we were created to live. There are positions of responsibility to be filled for the Lord’s eternal city. So, view the judgment seat as the interview and evaluation that determine your everlasting position in His capital city of the new heaven and the new earth.
The carnal person fears man, not God. The strong Christian fears God, not man. The weak Christian fears man too much, and God too little. —JOHN FLAVEL
Scripture makes it clear—the starting place of knowing God intimately is the fear of the Lord. Without it, we develop a phony relationship with a knockoff Jesus—one who is not the Lord of glory. We believe in an unrealistic savior.
Backsliding doesn’t occur the moment a person finds themselves in bed with someone they don’t have a marriage covenant with. It doesn’t start the moment a person finds themselves embezzling money from their employer. It starts long before, when we begin to tolerate what Jesus gave His life to free us from. What do I tolerate that Jesus died to set me free from?
If you don’t delight in the fact that your Father is holy, holy, holy, then you are spiritually dead. You may be in a church. You may go to a Christian school. But if there is no delight in your soul for the holiness of God, you don’t know God. You don’t love God. You’re out of touch with God. You’re asleep to his character. —R. C. SPROUL
When what is not sin takes precedence over the Word of the Lord, it becomes sin.
When men no longer fear God, they transgress His laws without hesitation. The fear of consequences is no deterrent when the fear of God is gone. —A.W. TOZER
We never know when God is testing us until we are on the other side of it.
When we lack holy fear, we’ll inevitably seek to get as close to the world as possible without falling headlong into it.
In essence he declared, “If I have to choose between Your presence and Your blessings, I’ll take Your presence!” Why? You can know about someone in their absence but not become close and intimate. This was Moses’ coveted reward.
Often people interpret Scripture through the lens of experience—either their own or others—rather than allowing Scripture to shape their experience.
Years ago, while I was on the road ministering, God spoke to me when I was fearful for my children. He said, “John, any fear in your life only identifies what you haven’t put under the cross; you still own that area of your life.”
Jonathan prayed a blessing over each child daily. He stated, “Every house should be a little church.”
The Holy Spirit whispered to my heart, “A spirit of pride and a spirit of religion go hand in hand, and they strengthen each other by hiding each other.” Pride keeps a person from admitting they’ve become religious, and religion covers up the pride by its spiritual behavior.
